The role of business lobbying in the European Union

Budapest, 6 October 2006

Mario Mueller, Manager Public Affairs & Communication

What is EuroCommerce?

• EuroCommerce was founded in 1993

• Merger of the European associations formerly representing retail, wholesale and international trade

“a single voice for Commerce in Brussels”

What is EuroCommerce?

• EuroCommerce represents more than 100 members from:– national trade associations– individual companies – European sectorial trade associations

• Members from 29 countries

Commerce in the EU

• 13% of EU GDP ; 5,5 millions enterprises, 95% of these are small enterprises;

• Interface between industry and the 450 million consumers across Europe

• Providing jobs for 26 million people from all parts of society

“A thriving sector bringing Wealth to the European Economy”

Our mission

• To promote the common interests of the sector vis-à-vis the EU institutions

• To lobby throughout the legislative process on behalf of commerce

• To educate EU decision makers to the impact of future legislation on commerce

• To provide timely and comprehensive information to members

Lobby as an Ancient Art

Lobbying

Why is it so little understood?

Lobby as an Ancient Art

It is still frequently viewed with suspicion

History: usage early 19th century

The caricature: portly, cigar-smoking men who wine and dine lawmakers

while slipping money into their pockets.

Lobby as an Ancient Art

Lobbying is a legitimate and necessary part of our democratic political process

Politics can not take a fair and informed decision without considering information from a broad range of interested parties

Lobby as an Ancient Art

Definition: Lobbying is support and encouragement of a point of view, either by groups or indviduals.

The Brussels Situation

Why it is important to be present !

The Brussels scene

European Parliament732 MEPs

- adopts legislation

-proposes

EU Commission

Council25 Member States- adopts legislation

Federations (EuroCommerce),

NGOs,lobbyists, etc.

Press+/- 3.000journalists

The Brussels scene

• The way the EU is organized has a significant effect on the lobby

• Information is passing through seperated routes of the policy making process (Parliament, Commission and Council) or via the national governments

• Major political groups in the Parliament are by significant importance

How does it work?

European Commission

- European Parliament- Council of Ministers

Legislation

EuroCommerce EuroCommercenational federations

The Brussels scene

• Personal communication between the players is essential

• About 14.000 lobby representatives seek the attention of the EU institutions

• Growing importance of European legislation and less national

• Enormous imbalance between corporate lobbying and lobbying on behalf of the public service

Lobbying and Communication

Effective lobbying and communication begins at

home – the social contact is what counts

The Brussels Lobby Situation

• Lobbying and pr - communication are growing, both on the national and European level

• Woody Allen says: « 90% of life is just showing up »

• The same is true for moving an idea through the political process

The Brussels Lobby Situation

• Possibility to influence the process • Early information: what is discussed

today in Brussels will impact on your activities tomorrow

• Open Decision makers to “real life” cases

Lobbying and Communication

High Yield Lobbying1. Good information about the person you visit2. Be fair and reasonable - lost credibility never comes

back3. Introduce yourself and the federation4. Discuss only one issue at a time5. Be a good listener6. Clear presentation of your position7. Give realistic solutions and offer alternatives8. Bring a good written executive summary9. Build up a personal relation10. Follow-up

Public Affairs and the Media

The interests of the national vs the « European » media

Public Affairs and the Media

• Everybody wants to see his name in the press

• Press is one of the capitals to support EuroCommerce visibility

• Classical media: newspapers and TV• New medias: internet portals,

internet information agencies• Brussels based federations focus on

European news

EU Lobbying

Thank you for your attention!

Mario Mueller, Manager Public Affairs & Communicationwww.eurocommerce.be